The central questions, “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?”

I think of it constantly. I also dwell as much as I can within the Golden Rule. Would I want this recycling taken outside? Yes. Okay! I’ll take it!

The troubles come when you default to “Someone else will deal with it.” Only because everyone thinks that way. It’s the default. So, be obnoxious. Be different. Buck the default and do what must be done. Not for reward, but because it needs doing. Nobody is too pure and perfect to not pick up a mess. Partially I do it out of duty, partially to be contrary.

In a lot of ways, being contrary can also power pure altruism. You are altruistic because you learned that pure altruism is a fantasy and you like to confuse and piss people off, especially when they have decided what slot you should be stuffed into. And then you break out. Because you’re contrary. Then when you break out of one mold, that first time, you discover the liberty of being an ass. Of being contrary. And you catch that whiff that life could be different. That it’s refreshing to find a standard and bludgeon it into a new shape.

You could walk right past the recycling bin. You could. But you don’t. You pick it up and you grab other full ones too. Because it bucks a trend, it jumps the default, it isn’t expected and nobody is there to appreciate you for it. But you took the plainness of life out to the shed, hit it with a hammer, and now it’s ever so slightly oblong and different. It’s somewhat new again. Plus you really love to drive people who completely doubt anyone would behave in such a fashion totally apeshit batty.

Silently, without seeking approval or appreciation, without fearing punishment. Because the little things you emit into the world change everything. A flap of a butterfly wing. Have faith that your small unnoticed service will have an effect on the world.

The raindrop doesn’t believe in the flood.